Two-way plug



VJune 29 1926.

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uuirso'srATEs PATENT oFFIcE.

BARRETT ROGERS, OF BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANU- FACTURING' COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

Two-WAY PLUG.

Application filed September 16, 1921. Serial No. 501,163.

My invention relates to electrical connector devices, and more specifically to two-way plugs.

Une of the objects of my invention is to 5 provide an improved two-way plug which will be durable and efcient'in use, simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and easy to assemble.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement for spacing and insulating a metallic plug receptacle casing from the plug contacts.

Another object of my invention is to form a compact and rigid supporting and electrical connecting means for the plug receptacle contacts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a two-way plug, with metallic housing portions which may be permanently assembled and finished before inserting the contact members and their supporting means.

A. further object of my invention is to provide an improved two-way plug in which the receptacle portion can be used as a sort of handle for frictionally screwing the plug portion into a socket, and in which, after the plug portion has been screwed home, the receptacle portion can be adjusted to any desired position, and in which the receptacle as a handle for positively operating on the plug portion to unscrew it.

- Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which two embodiments of my invention are shown-f Figure 1 is a side elevation of a two-way plus;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. Ll;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the plug, parts being broken away to show the interior construction Fig. 4 is a part elevational, part sectional view, the sections being substantially on the line i /1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the plug;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the lower insulating base;

Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the device w ith the vupper plug portion removed;

Fig.v S is a section substantially line 8-8 of Fig.l 4; and

Fig. 9 is a view of some of the parts before assembly.

on the Referring now to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive,

the two-way. plug shown therein comprises plug shell and center contacts 10 and 11 respectively, shell receptacle contacts 12 and 13 respectively, center receptacle contact members 14 and 15 respectively, and suitable means for positioning, supporting and insulating the aforesaid contacts.

As indicated in the statement of the invention, al sort of ratchet connection is provided between the receptacle portion and the plug portion by means of which a frictional engagement is provided between the receptacle portion and the plug portion in using the receptacle portion to screw the plug portion into the socket and in which a positive engagement is provided between the receptacle portion and the plug portion when the receptacle portion is used as a handle for screwing the plug portion out of the socket. Details of this construction will be set forth hereinafter.

As set forth more fully hereinafter, means are provided whereby the receptacle,` contacts and the plug 'contacts and their immediate insulating members can be assembled after the casing' for the receptacle contacts and associated parts have been assembled as a unitary device.

The center contact 11 is supported in position with respect to the plug shell contact 10 by means of a cylindrical insulating base 16. The receptacle contactslQ, 13, 14 and 15 are supported lin position by means of an insulating base 17 The insulating base 17 and the receptacle contacts Vare housed by means of a sheet metal housing member 18, formed of stamped or rolled sheet metal parts seamed together, as

indicated at 19 and 20. The receptacle shell contact 13 has its axis parallel to the axis of the plug shell contact 10 but offset with respect thereto, and the inner end of the threaded shell contact 12 is located between the plug shell Contact 10 and the receptacle shell contact 13. Bythis construction, the two-way plug can be screwed into a socket provided with a comparatively deep narrow shade, and one of the sockets will still be in position to hold a lamp with its axis parallel to the axis of thev shade.

The two insulating bases 16 and 17 are secured together by means of a central screw 21, which extends through aligned openings inthe insulating bases and is threaded into lli rl`his insures that one will be able to screw the plug portion out ot the socket. In screwing the plug portion into the socket, using the receptacle portion as a handle, the threaded plug shell contact 10 is frictionally held between the corrugated washer ll0 and the upwardly bent spring rlingers 3S, so that as the receptacle portion is rotated as a handle, the plug contact 10 will be screwed into the socket.

After the plug portion has been screwed home in the socket, the receptacle portion can be turned to any desired position to bring the laterally extending receptacle having the contact 12 to any desiredposition, suitable for the connection to be made. The plug portion, ot course, will remain stationary during this adjustment of the receptacle portion, the rictional engagement permitting this adjustment.

To screw the plug portion out, the receptacle portion is rotated in a direction reverse to that in screwing4 the plug portion in. During this reverse rotation, the ratchet members 36 enter the ratchet openings 37 in the shell contact 10 and positively engage the shell contact 10 to unscrew it, from the socket.

In assembling the two-way plug, thehousing member 18 is first constructed as a unitary device by seaming vthe parts together at 19 and 20. The various parts are then assembled in and about this housing. The construction is such that the parts which are located inside the housing 18 can be inserted through the outer openings. The insulating base 17 and insulating washer 33 are rst put in position to embrace be tween them the flange 32 of the housing. The ratchet member 34E is then placed in position on the insulating.V washer 33. The anchorage members 2e are then put in place, and the screws 2G are inserted and screwed into the anchorage members 24. The shell Contact 12 may then be slipped into its insulating sleeve or cup 50i, and secured to the anchorage members 24: by means of the screws 31. The shell receptacle Contact 13 is then slipped into its insulating cup or sleeve 5l and secured by the screws 28. The insulating disc 23 is inserted into the contact 13, the stamping 22 is assembled with respect to the disc 23, threaded shell plug contact 10, corrugated washer 40, center contact 14 and insulating base 16 are assembled in proper position, and the central screw 21 is inserted into place and screwed into the stamping 22, to hold the parts in assembled position.

The advantage of assemblingthe insider construction of the receptacle part after the casing part is assembled and linished, is that it would be practically impossible to finish the casing after the inside construction was assembled, as the acid which is used in :tin-

ishing would ruin the inside construction of the receptacle." It would be impracticable to seam the two parts of the casing together after they were linished as this operation would mar the nish. The ability to assemble the inside receptacle construction after the casing is finished has a pecial advantage in the metal casing construction.

Having thus i described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. AV plug receptacle Acomprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion coinprisinga center Contact and a screw shell contact, said receptacle portion comprising rece atacle contacts, said screw shell Contact being sviveled with respect to said receptacle portion, and transmission means between said receptacle portion and screw shell contact, whereby 'said receptacle portion may' be used as a handle in screwing the plug portion in or out with respect to a.

socket, said a ratchet.

2. A plug receptacle comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising a center contact and a screw shell contact, said receptacle portion comprising receptacle contacts, said screw shell contact being swiveled with respect to said receptacle portion, and transmission means between said receptacle portion and screw shell contact, whereby said receptacle portion may be use-d as a handle in screwing the plug portion in or out with respect to a socket, said transmission means comprising a ratchet for turning said screw shell contact in one direction, and a spring for turning it in the other.

3. A plug receptacle comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plugy portion comprising a center contact and a screw shell contact, said receptacle portion comprising receptacle contacts, said screw shell contact being swiveled with respect to said receptacle portion, and transmission means between said receptacle portion and screwk shell contact, whereby said receptacle portion may be used as a handle in screwing the plug portion in or out with respect to a socket, said transmission means comtransmission means comprising prising means for positively turning saidv shell in one direction and means for nn positively turning it in the other direction. y

4l. A plug receptacle comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portieri comprising a center contact and a screw shell contact having a flange, said receptacle portion comprising receptacle con tacts, said screw shell contact being swiveled with respect to said receptacle portion, and transmission means between said receptacle portion and screw shell contact, whereby said receptacle portion may be used as a handle in screwing the plug portion in or out with respect to the socket, said transmission means comprising a spring bearing on said flange, and located inside said screw shell contact. i

5. A plug receptacle comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising a center contact and 1. screw shell contact havinga flange, said receptacle portion lcomprising receptacle contacts, said screw shell contact being swivs` eled with respect to said receptacle portion, and transmission means between said receptacle portion and screw shell contact, whereby said receptacle portion may be used as a handle in screwing the plug portion in or out with respect to the socket, said transmission means comprising a spring` hearing on said flange,l and a ratchet engaging said flange. Y v

6. A plug receptacle comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising a center contact and a screw shell contact having a lange, said receptacle portion comprising receptacle contacts, sai-:l screw shell contact being swiveled with respect to said receptacle portion, and transmission means between said receptacle portion and screw shell Contact, whereby said receptacle'portion may be used as a handle in screwing the plug portion in or out with respect to the socket,y said transmission means comprising a spring bearing on one side of said rlange and press*n ing the other side of said flange into con tact with a surface on said receptacle por,-- tion,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub-` scribed my name.

BARRETT ROGERS. 

